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Rudy Gallegos, who was once accused in the murder of Robert Simpson at Hendry’s Beach in April 2010, has been the center of attention this week, testifying against his former friend Adrian Robles. Currently in the third week of his murder trial, Robles is alleged to have killed Simpson shortly after Simpson beat Gallegos in a fight. While the prosecution spent an afternoon walking Gallegos through the events of that day, the defense is suggesting that Gallegos is lying to protect himself.

Paul Wellman

Adrian Robles (Aug. 2010)

Jurors have endured several hours of a videotape of Gallegos in an interview room. For the first couple of hours, Gallegos lied to investigators and admitted as much, saying he was scared. He at first told them he had been reading his Bible at Leadbetter. When presented with evidence he purchased beer with Robles, he admitted to going to the beach with Robles. Eventually, as detectives showed him more of what they knew, he admitted to getting in a fight with Simpson but said he was not the one who stabbed him.

“I’m telling you straight up; I did not kill this man,” Gallegos told investigators. He spent time praying by himself, and his mother visited the room at one point, praying with him and telling him to tell the truth. “God is going to protect you, and the truth will set you free,” she told him.

In court, Gallegos said that after the fight he saw Robles arguing with Simpson. Then it appeared Robles punched the victim, Gallegos said, and blood was spurting out. Robles and their two female friends took off running. Gallegos, who said he could get beat up for being a rat against a fellow Westsider, said he walked away. In the car, he told the jury, Robles held up a knife that appeared to have blood on it.

On Monday, defense attorney Steve Balash attempted to show Gallegos was lying by pointing out what he said were inconsistent statements the man made at a preliminary hearing in August 2010.

Comments

These punks deserve all the time they get. I wonder if Mr. Simpsons family has taken any litigation action against the County for not taking steps that could have resulted in Mr. Simpson being alive today.

Yes, slightly politically incorrect on my part. Let me rephrase: I would like to see the gang injunction proceed so as to hopefully prevent occurrences like this from happening again. While not a cure all, the injunction would hopefully be a hindrance to unscrupulous and unsavory activities in the public arena.

"Round up the rest of them with the gang injunction" simply means all members of the various gangs in Santa Barbara that partake in criminal activities should be rounded up and put away. Until you have been subjected to their intimidation and hatred first hand you will not understand how badly this problem needs to be solved. There should be no tolerance for these activities. This has nothing to do with race this has to do with horrible upbringing and a propensity for violence. Get rid of them.

At large. See previous post related to concerns raised by County Parks staff in the year before the murder took place and how it was shot down by 2nd District Supervisor Wolf. In a nutshell, Park Rangers were concerned that due to cutbacks, they didn't have as much supervision available on site. Add to that the City prohibiting alcohol at their beaches, leaving Henry's as the only alcohol friendly beach in SB proper. A "perfect storm" of conditions that not only led to this cowardly murder, but will probably lead to another violent crime there unless something is done.

Hey, I like my drink as well as anyone. But I don't got near a gas can with a lit match. Which is what Henry's Beach has become. AZ. Why don't you go by the beach around 4 during the week and report back on what you see with regards to who is drinking where on the beach. This isn't that friendly a family beach anymore.